From Liz: We just hit Route 50 in Chillicothe, Ohio. Route 50 is touted as the “Backbone of America,” running coast-to-coast through the center of the country. It made me reflect on the backbone of this nation, or for that matter any nation: solid families. Solid families need solid marriages and solid parenting, including solid child discipline. Most of us would agree with that, but in real life we often struggle to live it out. I believe part of the problem comes from growing up in a culture of indulgence and instant gratification. For Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, and generations following, we have lived with much, and thought we had a right to much. Often with little effort on our part to achieve it. Along the way, we have lost the fortitude and resilience to hang in there through the “tough stuff.” How does that relate to solid families? We get married and three months later the honeymoon is over. Now we argue, then have to do the hard work of communicating through conflict. The four-year-old is throwing a tantrum in the store and now we have to choose between giving in to what he wants, or leave and discipline the child. Or, for instance, a teen is drinking and we have the difficult decision to make about establishing household boundaries, knowing the youth, in the short term, might make it extremely uncomfortable… Just north of Route 50 at a YMCA in Circleville, Ohio, the other day, we were hussled into an interior room of a YMCA when tornado warnings were issued for the area. (When it comes to excuses not to exercise, this is a pretty good one.) Anyway, as we settled in for the wait, a 10-year-old boy — on his way to manhood — started screaming and crying. He had apparently traded an item with another boy, and now wanted the item back. The other boy didn’t want to trade back, and thus the tantrum. The boy wasn’t getting what he wanted, and he apparently thought his behavior would force someone’s hand. A staff member, who appeared to be a veteran parent, showed up and firmly told the boy he couldn’t behave in that manner. However, if he remained quiet, they could talk further. This was affective, and the ensuing converstaion allowed the boy to express himself. The staff member, in turn, established her boundary paramaters again as well, including explaining to the boy there would be no trade back. She also advised him in the future not to bring his own toys to the YMCA. Both her firmness, and respect for the boy, struck me as good solid parenting techniques. Sadly, this firmness and respect are things that are predominately lacking in our current society. This staff person impressed me so much, that I complimented her on my way out… I am challenged every day to practice backbone in my marriage and with my children. Maybe we can support each other to build stronger families — and thus a stronger nation.
‘loneliest highway’
We went to Mass at St. Peter’s in Chillicothe, Ohio, yesterday. Just before singing the final hymn, the priest noted it had been “one of President Kennedy’s favorite.” After Mass, I approached the priest, told him I was running for president as an independent candidate, and said I wondered if he wanted to know my favorite hymn for the next Service. He smiled, politely… In Chillicothe, we connected with Rte. 50, which is our next tour route. It stretches from coast to coast and is known as: “The loneliest highway in America.” Once again, defying any type of political logic, we press on… In Hillsboro, Ohio, I talked with a woman who had taken her child out of the public high school in ninth grade “…because the kids were continually making fun of her.” During one of our previous tours, I told a newspaper in Cheboygan, Michigan, that the ‘Columbine killings,’ and the like, don’t happen in a vaccuum. It’s a build-up of years of ridicule, bullying and a variety of other psycho-social dynamics that push kids over the edge… In tiny Belfast, Ohio, we stopped at Boltes General Store (established in 1955). It had an old wooden floor, a juke box, a decorative Shell Oil pump from the mid 1930s… Great place! I put a campaign flier in the window and they gave me a commemorative Boltes General Store pen, which I will cherish — because my other pen had just run out of ink. Have I mentioned it’s a low budget campaign?
different blood types
I held a protest sign in front of St. Paul’s Church in Westerville, Ohio, today that said: ABORTION KILLS BABIES. Later after Mass there, a man said to me that many pro-choice people justify their stance by saying the fetus is merely an extension of the woman’s body. He noted if that is the case, how come some unborn babies have: different blood types than the mother? …Westerville was once known as the “Dry Capitol of the World.” In the mid-1800s, Westerville passed one of the earliest prohibition ordinances in the country… We then headed further south, stopping in Circleville, Ohio (home of the century-old Circleville Pumpkin Festival). They take pumpkins so seriously here, that the water tower is painted orange and shaped like a pumpkin — even including a big green stem on top… Then it was on to Chillicothe, Ohio, which was Ohio’s first state capitol (and home of the Chillicothe Paints Minor League baseball team). This evening we stayed with Jimmy and Mollie Maimone in Chuillicothe. They have eight children. When I asked Jimmy about the challenges of a big family, his first response was: “Oh, we’re just trying to get them all to Heaven.” What an absolutely wonderful response, given our current culture. Note: A Hearst Newspapers report today noted “climatic ruin has begun.” The article sighted top U.S. scientists who just issued a report warning that climate change is “already wreaking devastating changes on the U.S.” If there is a party that has the most solid answer for reversing the effects of global warming, in my opinion, it would be the Green Party.
children, seeds and a Farmer’s Market
We traveled south to Sunburry, Ohio, today where Fr. Sizemore at St. John Neumann’s Church said that many people in today’s culture are not following God’s will. He said, for example, that many couples are intentionally choosing (through artificial contraception) to have, say, two children “…in order that they are able to maintain a certain lifestyle.” He said a saner orientation would be to be open to how many children God chooses for a family. After the Mass, I met an 82-year-old man who had a wooden walking stick with a bunch of names carved in it. I asked about the names and he said they were the names of his nine children. “Obviously you’d line up with Fr. Sizemore’s message,” I smiled… We then met with Chuck Mers in Westerville, Ohio. Chuck helped establish the organization: Cradling Christianity. Working in concert with the Franciscan Foundation, the organization is trying to help Christians — 80% of whom are dependent on humanitarian aid — stay in the Holy Land. Because of poverty and ongoing strife in general, many are fleeing the area. The group helps fund schools, a Family Center and other projects throughout the area. For more info on Cradling Christianity, call: 614-761-9854… We then went to a park in Westerville where our Sarah and Joseph got in a basketball game with a group of doctors who had a day off from the local hospital. One guy was actually wearing his green hospital pants while he played. Kind of a weird looking uniform… We then went to a Farmer’s Market in Westerville, where we talked with a couple Church of the Messiah members who said their pastor allows the Market in their parking lot because the essence of the Gospel is to be as engaged as possible with the community… Finally, we went to a high traffic area of Westerville in the early evening and held abortion protest signs. Note: Chuck Mers asked us today if we’d be able to count the seeds in an apple. We said yes. He then asked if we’d be able to count the apples that just one of the seeds would produce. We said no. His point was that when you plant a seed, you never know how many people are going to, in the long run, be influenced by it. Chuck’s license plate reads: “Trust 1.” That is, he’s trusting God to multiply the apples — so to speak.
‘Let the games begin…’
We participated in our first official campaign event of Campaign 2012 today. We (and our retro-van campaign vehicle) were in Butler, Ohio’s Nifty Fifties parade. There were old Impalas with fuzzy dice, bobby socks, t-shirts with the sleeves rolled up… Fittingly, it is ‘best of’ this era that we ask Americans to consider recapturing. Back then it was a slower pace of life, neighbors helped neighbors more and the streets were a lot safer for kids… Our kids, on roller skates, tossed candy to the spectators and I would follow up: “That candy is actually a campaign bribe,” I’d smile, then hand them some literature and continue. “I’m running for president in Campaign 2012.” Most people would then, inevitably, look quizzical. “Well, it’s never too early to start,” I’d add, then head on. Most of them seemed good naturedly receptive enough, especially the ones I gave the Tootsie Rolls to.
climate change and Lincoln’s bedroom
The Cleveland Plain Dealer carried an article today about a report out of the Obama administration on climate change. The crux was that climate change is real, is advancing at an alarming rate and we need to do something about it. I agree. We, each of us in the First World, needs to cut back dramatically on our fossil fuel use. Our family bicycles or walks about 90% of the time within a five mile radius of our home. We don’t use air conditioning. We buy few items (it takes fossil fuel to manufacture most items). We are extremely sparing with lights and appliances, and we close off part of the place in the winter. And we’d do all this at the White House as well, including closing off the heating vents in the Lincoln bedroom. I mean he’s dead, right?
North Korea
In response to further UN sanctions, North Korea today said that it would “weaponize” it’s plutonium. They, at present, don’t have nuclear missiles. We, at present, have nuclear missiles. Some of those nuclear missiles are aimed at North Korea. Now, let’s look at this through, oh, their eyes…
abortion
I stood at the “four corners” in Danville, Ohio, last night holding an abortion protest sign that said: Stop the Real War! Abortion kills 3,600 babies a day in America! Afterward, Liz and I gave a talk to a prayer group at St. Luke’s Church here. I said America has just passed the 50 million abortion mark. And I noted that during the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, six million people were killed. “We’re living in a modern day Holocaust unparalleled in the history of the world,” I continued. And to end abortion, pro-life people need to take to the streets with a tremendously high level of sustained energy to match the pervasive evil that is permeating our culture. Standing by myself on the street corner last night, I was reminded of a proverb I recently heard. A lone butterfly fluttering it’s wings in one part of the world, can set in motion atmospheric events that, ultimately, can cause hurricane force winds in another part of the world.
Amish
I spent part of the morning chopping wood and this afternoon the boys and I worked with a neighboring family bailing hay and putting it up in their barn. Good, clean work. The bailing machine was pulled by plow horses. The Amish father and his four sons worked side-by-side totally in unison. This evening we had homemade ice cream at their place. The interior was hardwood floors, a few chairs and a black board for homeschooling. It exuded simplicity. Without the distraction of television or radio, the conversation was, for the most part, focused, meaningful and at a slow leisurely pace. Everyone was dressed modestly. You know… many people today look at the Amish culture as, well, charming but somewhat antiquated. What we should be looking at it as is: a model — of how many of us should be living.
“How about Chinese?”
President Obama and his wife recently flew to New York for dinner and a show. He took his obligatory entourage with him. I’m guessing the whole thing, with everyone in tow, cost easily: $100,000, or more. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the same man who who wants to cut government spending and got irate with corporate CEOs, etc., who were getting “golden parachutes?” I mean wouldn’t common sense in these times be: “Hey Michelle, do you want to order out for Chinese or something?”